Hand tape dispenser with tape positioning means

ABSTRACT

A TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ARCUATE PORTION DEFINING A TAPE SUPPLY ROLL SUPPORT, TAPE GUIDES FOR DIRECTING THE FREE END OF THE TAPE FROM THE ROLL, A TAPE SUPPORT MEMBER TO SUPPORT THE FREE END OF THE LENGTH OF TAPE, AND A TAPE SERVERING BLADE POSITIONED ALONG THE PATH OF THE TAPE FOR CUTTING A DISPENSED AND APPLIED LENGTH OF TAPE. THE DISPENSER MAY ALSO HAVE A WIPER FOR PRESSING AND SMOOTHING THE TAPE INTO CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE TO WHICH IT IS APPLIED.

Aug. 15, 1972 0. E. WOOD 3,684,626

HAND TAPE DISPENSER WITH TAPE POSITIONING MEANS Filed May 15, 1970 INVENTOR. Dom/41.0 E. W000 United States Patent US. Cl. 156-576 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tape dispensing device comprising an arcuate portion defining a tape supply roll support, tape guides for directing the free end of the tape from the roll, a tape support member to support the free end of the length of tape, and a tape severing blade positioned along the path of the tape for cutting a dispensed and applied length of tape. The dispenser may also have a wiper for pressing and smoothing the tape into contact with the surface to which it is applied.

The present invention relates to a new and improved tape dispensing mechanism and in one aspect to a hand holdable tape dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape designed to carry a roll of tape and to be held in the hand of the user so that the tape may be readily applied by the dispenser directly to the box, package or other article without necessitating the use of the other hand to position the free end of the tape to begin the application.

Hand held tape dispensers are well known in the art and they provide, certainly, a very useful tool in the application of tape to packages and the like, providing means for guiding the tape during application, convenient means for tensioning tape during application, and the convenient cutting of the applied tape from the remainder of the roll.

Examples of the prior known hand held tape applicators or dispensers include US. Pat. Nos. 2,777,594; 3,170,613; 3,351,511; 2,767,872; 2,722,329; and 2,527,588.

Devices utilizing rollers for applying and bufling the tape are shown, for example, in Pat. Nos. 2,732,964 and 2,532,596, both of which are provided with special means for placing the free end of the tape into contact with the surface to which the tape is to be applied.

The hand held dispensers of the above-described group are formed with means for aiding in the pressing of the tape against the surface to which the tape is to be applied, but these devices do not have any specific means for maintaining control of the free end of the tape after severing a length from the roll such that it is readily available to be placed in contact with a subsequent surface. The previous attempts to solve this problem of recoil of the free end after cutting the tape and having the free end become stuck to the dispenser or back to the roll of tape are generally similar. The dispensers are generally provided with a surface against which the adhesive surface of the tape may be urged such that the free end will not become lost in the dispenser. For example, look at the tape retaining prong 6 in US. Pat. No. 3,351,511, and the edge 12 in Pat. No. 2,527,588.

Another dispenser having a surface to contact the tape "ice and aid in the application of the tape is 11.8. Pat. No. 2,890,808. This dispenser however as with the other prior art is not designed to avoid recoil of the free end of the tape after a length thereof is severed from the roll. The tape is held against the applicator finger 24 by the roller 30 and lugs 34 but they fail to direct the tape against the pressure portion 27 to avoid recoil or displacement of the free end of the tape.

The present invention affords a significant improvement over the prior devices by defining a tape support and ap plicating pad to which the tape will readily adhere and maintain its position without contamination of any of the adhesive by contact of the free end with the dispenser frame.

The present invention provides an improvement in hand held tape dispensers which will increase the speed with which one can apply pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to cartons, boxes, or the like.

The hand holdable dispensing device of the present invention comprises a frame including a hand grip member which also serves to support a roll of tape, means defining several guide members positioned along one side of the frame to define a path along which the tape is guided toward the object to which it is to be applied, a cutting member on the terminal end to sever the applied length of tape from the remainder of the roll, and a dielectric pad which is supported on the frame and extends along the tape path to be continually in frictional contact with the tape as the same is being drawn from the roll such that upon severing the dispensed length of tape from the tape remaining on the roll the free end of the tape is held against the dielectric pad because of electrostatic charge developed during the dispensing of a length of tape.

The present invention will be more fully understood after reading the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the dispenser of the present invention applying a length of tape about the corner of a carton, package, or similar article and showing in broken lines the position of the applicator after severing the tape; and

FIG. 4 is a detail, sectional view showing the severing blade disposed on the forward portion of the frame.

The hahd holdable tape dispensing device illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a plate-like frame formed by a number of frame elements bolted together to define on one end a hand grip portion 7 having a generally semicircularly shaped tape supporting member 8 upon the convex surface of which is mounted the core 9 of a supply roll of tape 10 wound adhesive side inward. The core 9 is contained on the member 8 by a flange 11 extending in a radially outward direction from a planar portion of the member 8 on which a leaf spring 12 (see FIG. 3) is mounted which urges the core 9 into engagement with the convex surface of the member 8. The flange 11 and a side wall 13 of the hand grip portion thus serve to contain the roll of tape 10. The hand grip portion is also formed with two transversely or axially 3 extending bars, a bar 15 defining a mounting bracket and a bar 16 aiding to define the tape path from the roll to the dispensed position.

Secured to the mounting bar 15 by means of bolt and nut assemblies, is a sheet metal web member 17 which is generally U-shaped and formed with a thumb rest 18 projecting from the bight portion thereof in a direction along the surface of the roll of tape.

Positioned on the other side of the web member "17 and secured to bar 15 to define the forward end of the dispenser frame is a tape support member 19. The member 19 has a length or tape supporting surface of between 1 inch (2.5 cm.) and 4 inches (10 cm.), to support a pad positioned along the tape path. A flexible and resilient pad 20 is supported by support member 19 and as illustrated is sandwiched between the support member 19 and the web member 17. When mounted in this cantilever manner one end of the pad 20 extends from its support to a position along the tape path where it will swing against the tape support member 19. The pad 20 terminates adjacent the outer end of the member 19 which supports a tape severing blade 21 on its free end. The member 20 may be formed of a strip of flexible, normally straight, dielectric material, e.g., neoprene rubber about of an inch thick mm.), having a width, preferably, at least as wide as the tape to be applied. The dielectric property aids to retain limp tapes such as pressure sensitive adhesive tapes using thin polyester films as backing materials. Other suitable materials may be pure gum black rubber having a durometer of 45, a piece of carpeting material having a relatively stiff backing to keep the material in a normally straight position, a resiliently mounted metal support on the face of the tape support member 19, which may have a face coated with a dielectric material, or other similar flexible material which will develop an electrical charge upon frictional contact sliding engagement with the tape backing as the same is dispensed and applied to the surface of a product 24.

Supported from a bracket 22 of the blade support member 19 and defining a tape guide along the tape path adjacent the member 19 and pad 20 is a knurled roller 25. The roller 25 has its periphery adjacent the plane of the pad 20 but is positioned on the side nearer the axis of the tape support 8 and contacts the adhesive surface of the tape as it is drawn from the roll to guide the tape backing into position against the pad 20. The roller 25 is positioned to direct the tape toward the tape support member :19 and pad 20. When using the stiffer heavier tapes such as filament tapes, the curve placed in the tape by the roller may hold the tape against the pad after a portion has been applied and separated by the blade from the supply roll.

The tape support member 19, which is formed on each side of the severing blade 21 with upstanding guards 26, also has a bracket 27 mounted thereon for holding a wiper 28 formed of a flexible material which is stiff enough because of its thickness or structure to serve to smooth and wipe the tape against the surface to which it is applied. The wiper 28 may be formed, e.g., of rubber or neoprene, mounted also in a cantilever fashion to serve as a buffer to press down the end of a severed and partially applied length of tape to a surface 24.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the dispenser may be used to place a length of tape onto a surface 24 of a package and the same is applied by manipulating the dispenser in such a manner that the surface is slapped by the pad 20 such that the exposed adhesive surface of a strip of tape held to the pad member 20 by an electrostatic attraction is secured or transferred to the surface 24 by the pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the tape. The dispenser is then pulled in a direction in which the length of tape is to run to apply the length of tape on the surface with the dispenser positioned at all times in a manner such that if the tape is withdrawn from the roll it moves about a knurled tape guide roller 25 and into contact with the surface of the pad 20. After the tape has been applied to the package and possibly drawn around an edge of the same (as shown in FIG. 3) the dispenser is rotated about the end supporting the severing blade 21 to bring the tape 10 into engagement with the serrated blade 21 thus severing the tape. In this position then the bufling member 28 is in contact with the length of tape applied, and the bufling member may be used to press and smooth the free end of the tape down against the surface of the package to leave no free ends on the tape.

After each application the electrostatic attraction of the pad 20 for the free end of the limp type tape '10 supports the tape 10 on the exposed surface of the pad 20 out of contact with the dispenser frame and in a position where it can be readily attached to the next article.

This pad 20 and structure could be incorporated in a mechanized tape applicator as well to position the tape for application to articles automatically. The pad 20 would be positioned to engage the article to which the tape would be applied and to maintain contact with the tape during application.

Having thus described the present invention, what is claimed is:

1. A tape dispensing device comprising a frame having two ends,

means on said frame adjacent one end for supporting a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape,

guide means defining a tape path along said frame between said means for supporting a roll of tape and said blade, said guide means comprising pad means including a rectangular pad formed of a dielectric material positioned along said tape path between said means supporting a roll of tape and said severing blade to frictionally contact the backing on the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape as the same is withdrawn from said roll of tape for electrostatically supporting the free end of the roll of tape upon severing of a dispensed length therefrom, and roller means disposed for contacting the side of a said tape opposite the backing and for directing said backing toward said pad as a said tape is moved along said tape path from said means supporting a roll of tape toward said blade.

2. A tape dispensing device according to claim 1 wherein said pad is flexible and is cantilever mounted to the frame intermediate the ends of the frame and extends along the frame with a free end of the pad terminating adjacent the severing blade affording an exposed surface to contact the backing of the tape and support the free end of the tape in a said roll, said pad flexing from a normally straight planar position to a position adjacent the frame and nearer the severing blade as the tape is drawn from the roll.

3. A tape dispensing device according to claim 2 wherein said roller means includes a guide roller positioned adjacent one end of the pad with its periphery positioned on the side of the plane of said pad nearer said means for supporting a roll of tape for guiding the tape extending around said roller against said pad.

4. A tape dispensing device according to claim 5 wherein a bufling member is disposed on the frame on the side opposite said pad and adjacent said severing blade for bufling down an applied length of tape.

5. A hand holdable tape dispensing device comprising a generally plate-like frame having two end portions,

a semicircularly shaped hand grip and tape roll support member positioned adjacent one end portion of said frame,

guide means including a guide roller defining a tape path along one side of the frame,

a tape severing blade supported adjacent the other end portion of the frame, and

tape support means comprising a rectangular pad formed References Cited of a flexible dielectric material mounted on the frame UNITED STATES PATENTS to extend along the tape path intermediate said end portions between said blade and said guide means to 2,728,477 12/1955 Vogt frictionally contact the backing on the pressure-sensi- 5 3,125,263 3/1964 Harbour 156-423 tive adhesive tape for wiping the same on a surface 3,185,363 5/1965 Krueger and for supporting the free end of the tape roll upon 2,777,594 1/1957 K X severing of the applied length of tape, said guide roller being positioned on a side of the path opposite BENJAMIN BOROHELT Pnmary Exammer the tape support means to contact one side of said 10 J. M. HANLEY, Assistant Examiner tape and to direct said backing against said tape support means and said rectangular pad having a US. Cl. X.R. normal planar position oblique to a line joining the 156--527 axis of the guide roller and the axis of said semicircularly-shaped support member.

Patent 3,68ui626 Dated August 15, 1.972

Inventor) Donald E. wood It is Certified that r r appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1; Column S, between lines 29 and 30 the following phrase should be inserted:

-- a tape severing blade supported adjacent the other end of said frame V Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 197 (SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

